Form or last for boots or shoes.



Patented August 25, 1903.I

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN'EDWARD BETE, OF STOUGI-ITON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FORM'OR LAST FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,321, dated August 25, 1903. Application tiled April 3, 1903. Serial No.. 150,887.` (No model.)

To all whom t mag/'concern- Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD BETE, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Form or Last for Bootsor Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. Y

This invention relates to forms or lasts for boots and shoes; and it consists substantially in the construction, organization, and combinations of parts, as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed. v

The principal objectof the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is simple in its embodiment and both effective and reliable in use or operation, besides possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

A further object is to provide a device of the character referred to comprising 4few parts which are easily and readily assembled or joined together,and also which is easy to handle or manipulate and which is strong and also showing the adjusting devices between the two sections of the said form or last, andV Fig. 4 is a perspective view in section of 1 a part of one of the operative elements or members of the adjusting devices between the two sections of the form or last.

Preliminarily to a more detailed description it may be stated that in the embodimentof my improvements herein shown I construct the form or last in two parts or sections, each adapted to the other, for the purpose of insertion within a boot or shoe, and connecting the said parts or sections are adjusting devices of Fig. 2.

special 'constructionand organization, where.- by the forward part or section of the last may be adj usted or extended relatively to the rear-V ward part or section thereof for thepurpose of straightening out or stretching the material of which the bootor shoe may be formed. The said adjustingdevices are so constructed as to enable the forward part or sect-ion of the last to be firmly secured in whatever position to which the same may be adjusted or moved, said construction alsol constituting eective means whereby the form or last may be withdrawn in entirety from the boot or shoe when- -v ever desired.

Vhile I have herein represented a certain preferred embodiment of my improved shoe form or last, it is to be understood that I am not limited thereto in precise detail, since immaterial changes may be resorted to coming Within the scope of my invention.

1 represents my improved form of' last for bootsor shoes, the same being preferably constructed of a forward section 2 and a rearward or heel section 3, each of said sections being correspondinglybeveled orv scarfed at 4 5, respectively, to enable the two sections `to be evenly united when the said sections are brought together. Formed in the upper face of the recessedportion 6 of the forward Lpart or section of the last is a kerf or groove 'of proper widthand depth, while formed in the corresponding recessed surface 8 of the `rearward partor heel-section 3 of the last'is a similar kerf or groove 9, the sides of each of these said kerfs or grooves being substantially in alinement with each other in whatever position the partsor sections of the last may be adjusted relatively to each other.

Formed in the said rearward or heel section' .3 is a longitudinal opening 10, extending,

preferably, all the way through the said section from the said inner edge 5 thereof to its extreme rearward surface l1, while also formed in the said rearward or heel section `3, substantially at right angles to the saidopening 10, is a vertical. opening 1-2, thesides or walls of which are extended beyond the sides IOO The said sides or walls of the vertical opening 12 so cut or intersect the sides or walls of the said opening 10 at the point let (see Fig. 3) as to bring the two openings into communication with each other at such point, and working in the vertical opening 12 is a rod or stem 15, provided at its outer end with a suitable handle 16, the said rod or stem being of a diameter to fit the sides of said opening in a manner to be rotated within the same, while at a suitable distance from its inner end this rod or stem is formed with a plurality of radially-disposed ribs 16, which are beveled or tapered toward the end at 17 (see Fig. 4) and which may be said to constitute a pinion for engaging the teeth 18 of` a rack-bar 19, working within the longitudinal opening 10 in the rearward or heel section 3 of the last or form, said rack having a flattened forward extension 2O of a thickness adapting the same to work snugly between the sides of the kerfs 7 and 9 of the forward and rearward last-sections, respectively, the said flattened extension 2O being movably connected to the said forward section of the last or form by means of a pin 21 passing transversely through an opening therefor in each, as shown. Formed at the inner end of the rod or stein 15 and integrally connecting the tapered ends of the radially-disposed ribs 16a is a head'or flange 23, which when the parts are assembled together for operation occupies that part of the opening 12 extending below the under side of the opening 10, (see Fig. 2,) and thus it will appear that upon exerting an outward pull upon the rod or stem l5 through the medium of its handle 16 the said head or ange 23 will engage the lower edge of the rack-bar 19, and in this way may the last be withdrawn from the boot or shoe in entirety whenever desired. .It will also be observed that by engagement of the ribs 16a with the teeth 18 of the rack-bar this bar' may be caused to move 'in one directionor the other, and thus may the forward part or section 2 of the last be adj usted relatively to the rearward section thereof, it being apparent that accordingly as the rod or stem 15 is turned in one direction or the other the rack-bar and its extension 20 will be accordingly moved in one direction or the other within the opening 10 therefor.

In virtue of the tapered formation of the ribs 16"L it is apparent that by exerting a de sired outward pull upon the rod or stem 15 during the adjusting operations there will be no impediment to free and perfect operation of the adjusting devices, and whenever the parts or sections of the last or form have been brought to desired relative positions it is simply necessary to impart to the rod or stem 15 a forcible thrust inwardly, which causes the wider parts of the ribs 1Ga to frictionally engage the flat surface intermediate the teeth of the rack-bar 18 in such manner as to securely lock said rack-bar into the position to which the same may have been moved in one direction or the other.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the construction and operation of the parts are exceedingly simple, besides being thoroughly effective and reliable in the performance of the intended functions thereof, and it will also be seen that the two parts or sections of the last or form are always maintained in proper position with respect to each other, thereby enabling the desired stretching operations to be conducted with accuracy and expediency.

It will be noted that the forward extension 2O of the rack-bar is of greater width than the rear portion of said bar, the purpose of such construction being to prevent all play of the heel-section which might be caused by easy working of the rack-bar and pinion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A` form or last for boots and shoes, consisting of a forward section and a rearward section, a rack-bar adj ustably connecting the two sections, and means for operating said bar, comprising a pinion having teeth each of varying dimensions from end to end thereof.

2. A form or last for boots and shoes, consisting of a forward section and a rearward section, a rack-bar adjustably connecting the two sections,and means for operating said bar, comprising a pinion having teeth, each of tapered formation from one end thereof to the other.

3. A form or last for boots and shoes, consisting of a forward section and a rearward section, a rack-bar adjustably connecting the two sections, and means for operating said bar, comprising a pinion having teeth, each of tapered formation from one end thereof to the other, said pinion having a partintegral therewith adapted to engage with the rack-bar for withdrawing the form from a boot or shoe in which the same may be placed.

4. A form or last for boots and shoes, consisting of a forward section and a rearward section, a rack-bar adjustably connecting the two sections,and means for operating said bar, said means being constructed with tapered portions for frictionally engaging the bar, to hold the same in different positions.

5. A form or last for boots and shoes, consisting of a forward section and a rearward section, the former having a kerf extending inward from its upper surface, and the latter having a corresponding kerf, said latter section also having therein alongitudinal opening and a communicating vertical opening, a rack-bar working in said longitudinal opening and having a forward extension lying in said kerfs and removably connected to the forward IIO section, and an operating rod or stem working name to this specification in the presence of in said vertical opening and having a pinion two subscribing witnesses. v engaging the rack-bar, said rod having at its l v inner end a head adapted to engage the lower JOHN EDWARD BETE' 5 side of said rack-bal', and the teeth of Said Witnesses:

pinion being beveled or tapered inwardly. GEORGE O. WENTWORTH,

In testimony whereof I have signed my] EDGAR F. LEONARD. 

